GOLKAR LAWMAKER TO CHAIR BANK CENTURY INQUIRY COMMITTEE

Jakarta, Dec 5 (ANTARA) - Golkar Party politician Idrus Marham was on Friday night elected to chair the House special committee that will investigate the controversial Rp6.7 trillion government bailout of Bank Century.

In the election participated in by the committee's 30 members that lasted until 11 pm Friday night, Marham won 19 votes or (63.33 percent) of the committee's membership.

Three other candidates who won the second, third and fourth largest numbers of votes were named the committee's deputy chairmen.

They were Gayus Lumbuun of the Democratic Party of Struggle faction who won 23.3 percent of the votes, Mahfudz Siddik of the Prosperous Justice Party faction (10 pct) and Yahya Sacawiria of the Democrat Party faction (3.33 pct).

The composition of the 30-member inquiry committee was based on the proportionality principle with the number of faction representatives in the committee determined in accordance with the size of the factions concerned.

Based on the proportionality principle, the Democrat Party (PD) is represented in the committee by eight cadres, Golkar by six cadres, the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDIP) by five, the National Mandate Party and Prosperous Justice Party by three cadres each, the United Development Party (PPP) and National Awakening Party (PKB) by one cadre each.

Bank Century almost collapsed some time ago when its assets were flown overseas by major share-holder Robert Tantular. In order to help the ailing bank, the government provided it with bailout funds amounting to Rp6.7 trillion without the approval of the House of Representatives (DPR).

In order to carry out its inquiry, the special committee is expected to examine the flow of the bailout funds through the Financial Transactions Reporting and Analysis Center (PPATK).

Based on an investigative audit report of the State Audit Board (BPK), the Rp6.7 trillion bailout funds were disbursed in four stages.

The disbursement of the second phase worth Rp2.2 trillion was done without consultations with the Coordination Committee (KK). "This was against LPS Regulation No. 3/PLPS/2008," BPK Chief Hadi Poernomo said.